Tehran — In a significant move to bolster disaster management capabilities in Iran, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) partnered with the National Disaster Management Organization (NDMO) to conduct a comprehensive two-day workshop, aimed at fostering bilateral collaborations and improving the country’s resilience when natural hazards strike.  

Held at the Ministry of Interior in Tehran (31 October – 1 November), the workshop brought together around 50 participants from across the country to share international best practices and enhance the capacity of NDMO's provincial managers in disaster management. 

The workshop was structured to address several key areas of disaster management, including risk reduction and preparedness strategies, the safety and well-being of disaster survivors and the protection of the environment and people against consequent disasters in times of natural hazards.  

“As a key policymaking entity in Iran, NDMO has been instrumental in formulating guidelines and frameworks that guide our collective response when disasters strike. Our shared objective is to bolster these strategic efforts, exchange insights and foster collaboration that will fortify the safety and security of every individual in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said Lalini Veerassamy, IOM Iran Chief of Mission.  

The attendees were guided to enhance their knowledge of disaster preparedness and management. The sessions aimed to familiarize them with global frameworks and approaches to disaster and displacement, while also sharing knowledge on managing displacement with a focus on integrating cross-cutting issues such as gender, diversity and inclusion into disaster risk reduction strategies. Additionally, practical sessions on evacuation and displacement planning were conducted by IOM experts from Geneva to provide hands-on experience, improve coordination between provinces prone to similar disasters and develop tailored solutions based on each province’s identified risks and challenges. 

The training gathered high-level officials from the UN and provincial NDMO offices as part of their ongoing support to the Government of Iran in strengthening its capacity in the field of disaster management. 

Iran is prone to natural hazards such as earthquakes, flooding and land degradation, while the country has been facing climate-induced internal migration in recent years due to dire water shortage, intense heat waves, as well as drought and sand and dust storms.   

This workshop marked an advancement in fortifying Iran's disaster management framework, ensuring that all stakeholders are better prepared to mitigate and respond to natural hazards and crises.

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For media inquiries, please contact Nima Karimi at IOM Iran [+989125208662] [nimkarimi@iom.int]